NEWS

Serena wins Cincinnati, clinches third Series title in four years

World No. 1 Serena Williams clinched the 2014 Emirates Airline US Open Series women’s title Saturday by defeating Caroline Wozniacki, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4, in the semifinals of the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati. She then polished off her stellar summer on Sunday by defeating Ana Ivanovic, 6-4, 6-1, to win the title in Cincinnati for the first time.

Williams has now won the Emirates Airline US Open Series women’s title three of the last four years and will attempt to set another record for the largest payout in tennis history at the US Open, at $4 million ($3 million for winning the US Open and a $1 million bonus for winning the US Open as Emirates Airline US Open Series champion).

The two-time defending US Open champion Williams won both the Emirates Airline US Open Series title and the US Open last year, taking home a record $3.6 million – $2.6 million for winning the US Open and an additional $1 million as Emirates Airline US Open Series Champion.

Williams is the only player, man or woman, to win the Emirates Airline US Open Series Bonus Challenge three times (2011, 2013-14). No other woman has won it more than once.

In addition to her Cincinnati crown, this summer Williams also won the title in Stanford, Calif., and reached the semifinals at the Rogers Cup in Montreal.

The women’s second- and third-place finishers in this year’s bonus challenge have yet to be determined.